Approaching Winter Solstice

We are approaching the winter solstice, and where I live the sun barely gets higher than seven degrees above the horizon this time of the year. To put this into perspective - if you extend your arm and close your fist, the height of your fist represents about ten degrees.  The sun rises around nine in the morning, and sets at about three in the afternoon. The light in the hour before sunrise and after sunset can be quite special though.